Perspective Podcast - July 20, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Movie Theater Massacre
A shooting erupted during a midnight showing of The Dark Night Rises at a multiplex in Aurora, Colorado.  The gunman, 24 year old James Holmes, opened fire at 12:39 PM in theater nine at the Century 16 movie theater.  Some rounds made it through the walls, entered adjoining theater number eight, injuring people there as well.  ABC News consultant and former FBI agent Brad Garrett says it's clear Holmes was prepared.

Needles in Flight
We turn now to airline food.  As a cuisine, it's nothing to write home about, but on four international Delta flights last weekend it was even worse.  Sewing needles were discovered in several business class turkey sandwiches on flights that originated in Amsterdam.  ABC's Pierre Thomas had the details.

Stranded Traveler Scam
It's one of the most wide-spread scams in the world of cyber crime.  You receive an email that reads like a cry for help from a friend who has been robbed on vacation overseas, but it's really a hacker trying to cash in on your pity.  When one of these emails ended up in the inbox of an ABC producer, she and ABC's Elisabeth Leamy decided to follow the money.

Provigil
Some call it Viagra for the brain ... the ultimate pill for a 24-7 society.  It's a prescription medication that keeps you focused and awake for days at a time without the jittery side effects of caffeine.  Provigil was created to treat sleep disorders, but off-label use of the drug has skyrocketed.  Here's ABC's Dan Harris.

Hooked at Birth
Now a quiet epidemic on the rise for roughly one baby an hour in this country ... born addicted to prescription painkillers because of their mothers drug abuse.  ABC's Juju Chang visited a special hospital ward in Tennessee to bring us this tale of heartbreak and hope.

Elephant Whisperers
Few people would volunteer to get in the path of a charging elephant, but for one brother and sister team, it's merely an occupational hazard.  They say there's a heartwarming method to their madness.  ABC's Bill Weir has more.

Celebrity Stalkers
There's no lack of people trying to become famous on the internet these days, but there can also be a dark side to online celebrity: cyber-stalking.  And when one model with hundreds of thousands of online followers started receiving threatening messages, she worked to uncover the culprit.  Here's ABC's Nick Watt.

Presidential Campaigns on the Attack
Between new attack ads and campaign speeches, the race to the White House is heating up.  The president's re-election campaign is making the case early and often that voters should be questioning Mitt Romney's taxes, off-shore accounts, and his record at Bain Capital.  Mitt Romney's team says it's all about the economy.  For more on the intense contest, here's ABC's Senior Political Team: Rick Klein and Amy Walter.

Mike Tyson
He's been known as a champion, convict, addict, and actor, and now the former heavyweight champ is ready to knock them out on Broadway.  To find out more ABC's Terry Moran sat down with Mike Tyson.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - July 13, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Spirit Air Nightmare
Spirit Airlines is known for some of the cheapest airfares around, and this week more than 100 Spirit passengers found out why.  For them, what was supposed to be an easy four hour flight turned into a 14-hour ordeal.  ABC's Jim Avila has the details.

Secret Campaign Donations
We now turn to politics, where some organizations are poised to spend more than a billion dollars on this year's election.  Much of that money comes from unnamed donors, and as ABC Senior Political Correspondent Jonathan Karl reports, it seems that under today's rules more money can buy you more secrecy.

Raffaello Follieri
They were once a glamorous jet-setting couple, Ann Hathaway and her wealthy Italian boyfriend, but then he was busted for scamming investors using his real estate business.  He was released from prison just weeks ago and sat down with ABC's Lama Hasan to tell his side of the story.

Jerry Joseph
Who wouldn't like to shave a few years off their age? ... Maybe become a teenager again.  ABC's Chris Cuomo sat down with someone who did it for real, until his story of lies began to crumble.

Cancer Bride Lie
A story about a bride who walked down the aisle under extremely false pretenses ... after a lie that spiraled out of control.  Here's ABC's Elizabeth Vargas.

Revenge of the Nerds
Mark Zuckerberg was married in May, but Silicon Valley is still full of high-paid techies who struggle to get dates.  So who they call for help?  ABC's Bill Weir has the answer.

The Dark Knight Rises
The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters across the country next weekend.  It's the third and final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy and ABC's Chris Connelly sat down with Nolan to discuss the film.

Host:  Aaron Katersky
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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Perspective Podcast - July 6, 2012

In this edition of Perspective...

Tom, Katie and Scientology
This week Katie Holmes blind-sided Tom Cruise with divorce papers after five years of marriage, asking for full custody of their daughter Suri.  Could Cruise's famous devotion to the Church of Scientology be the cause behind the breakup?  ABC's Dan Harris has the details.

Cooper Comes Out
Not too long ago, if a celebrity came out it was a big deal, warranting talk show appearances and magazine covers, but today many gay celebs are choosing a more subdued approach.  As ABC's Terry Moran reports, the latest such person is CNN's Anderson Cooper.

Mitch Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was a singer whose raw talent managed to outshine headlines about her personal problems and struggles with addiction, until her untimely death nearly a year ago.  ABC's Nick Watt sat down with her father to talk about the daughter he lost.

Poisoned Soldiers
When you sign up for the military you know you're putting your life on the line, but for thousands of marines their wives and children were at risk too ... all because of a toxic secret at a North Carolina marine base.  As ABC's Cynthia McFadden reports, a few determined men and one famous environmentalist are fighting to change that.

Governor Chris Christie
Chris Christie is the brazen, tough, and extremely outspoken governor of New Jersey.  His hot temper and larger-than-life persona have sparked dozens of headlines, and now he's opening up about Mitt Romney, Bruce Springsteen, and his ongoing struggle with weight.  Here's ABC Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper.

NBA Draft Dreams
Most high school and college basketball players don't come close to making it onto NBA rosters, and the one you're about to meet gambled his pro basketball hopes and dreams on a 23-year-old agent.  ABC's John Schriffen went along with them for the ride.

Charlie Sheen
He's the self-proclaimed Vatican, warlock assassin.  His tiger blood and harem of goddesses were just a few phrases Charlie Sheen introduced us to in 20-11.  Now that he's past that epic meltdown, what's he up to?  ABC's Amy Robach has more on the remodeled rebel.

Call Me Maybe
Call Me Maybe: it's that hopelessly catchy tune that's sailed to number one on the charts and spawned countless YouTube parodies.  How did this song from Carly Rae Jepsen dig its way into the heads of millions?  Here's ABC's Sharyn Alfonsi.

Host:  Cheri Preston
Producer:  Colin Tipton

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